UK sailors captured at gunpoint by Iranians

[boutons_]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6484279.stm

[whottt]

What, no alarmism? Hysteria? Damn Brits had it coming?

It's not W's fault that the Iranians now hate the British?

Are you ok?

[AZLouis]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070323/ap_on_re_eu/british_seized_iran

Says it's 15 sailors.

[Drive Like Jehu]

What, no alarmism? Hysteria? Damn Brits had it coming?

It's not W's fault that the Iranians now hate the British?

Are you ok?


Give him time, it's too early to Monday morning quaterback...

[101A]

Not a smart move by Iran. It would probably be in their best interest to release those sailors soon.

[clambake]

Of course they'll release them soon.

Iran wants to show they won't bend over.

[whottt]

Not a smart move by Iran.


Smarter than capturing US Soldiers...maybe.

[smeagol]

Smarter than capturing US Soldiers...maybe.
They're are to chickeshit to capture Argentine soldiers. We'd kick Iranian behind in no time (unless we are too busy allowing Chavez to do an anti-US rally :rolleyes )

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

It would probably piss some folks off (oh well), but I say that when Ahmadinidumbass comes to NYC over the weekend, we grab him and hold him and tell Iran they can get his punk ass back when Britain gets their troops back alive.

[DarkReign]

It would probably piss some folks off (oh well), but I say that when Ahmadinidumbass comes to NYC over the weekend, we grab him and hold him and tell Iran they can get his punk ass back when Britain gets their troops back alive.

That sounds alot like terro...I mean, good patriotism.

[smeagol]

It would probably piss some folks off (oh well), but I say that when Ahmadinidumbass comes to NYC over the weekend, we grab him and hold him and tell Iran they can get his punk ass back when Britain gets their troops back alive.
An eye for an eye . . .

[Nbadan]

There seems to be a past controversy with Iran over who controls the waterway...


According to a Norwegian news article something similar happened in 2004, when 8 British sailors were caught while patrolling the sea border to Iran - they were kept for 3 days before they were released.

The article also quotes Nick Lambert, HMS Cornwall's captain(?), who says that while they are reasonably certain the sailors were in Iraqi waters, the sea borders in the innermost part of the Perisan Gulf is very complicated.

Linky (http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/uriks/article1704785.ece)

[ChumpDumper]

There seems to be a past controversy with Iran over who controls the waterway...Yeah, there was a war for eight years. Maybe you heard about it.

[Nbadan]

Source: AP
By JIM KRANE, Associated Press Writer


DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Iranian naval vessels on Friday seized 15 British sailors and marines who had boarded a merchant ship in Iraqi waters of the Persian Gulf, British and U.S. officials said. Britain immediately protested the detentions, which come at a time of high tension between the West and Iran.

In London, the British government summoned the Iranian ambassador to the Foreign Office and demanded "the immediate and safe return of our people and equipment." Iran had no immediate comment.

The U.S. Navy, which operates off the Iraqi coast along with British forces, said the British sailors appeared unharmed and that Iran's Revolutionary Guard naval forces were responsible.

Britain's Defense Ministry said the British Navy personnel were "engaged in routine boarding operations of merchant shipping in Iraqi territorial waters," and had completed a ship inspection when they were accosted by the Iranian vessels.

Yahoo News (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070323/ap_on_re_eu/british_seized_iran)

The Shatt-Al-Arab river and waterway where these troops were seized is one of the longest running territorial battles in history. It was one of the major impedous behind the Iraq-Iran war.

[Nbadan]

Looks like Ahmadinejad was keen to AG plan...


UNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has canceled a planned visit to the United Nations, blaming a delay in U.S. visas being issued to the crew of his airplane.

Ahmadinejad wanted to speak to the U.N. Security Council before a vote, scheduled for Saturday on sanctions against Iran.

Iran says it will still try to get high-level representation to the U.N. most likely the foreign minister.

The draft resolution comes after the U.N.'s atomic energy watchdog agency said last month it could not verify that Iran's uranium enrichment program was strictly for peaceful purposes, as Iran has said. Western nations, including the United States, believe Iran is using its uranium enrichment program to develop nuclear weapons.

CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/03/23/iran.nuclear/index.html)

[Nbadan]

This statement (http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-24/0703233237135257.htm) has been released by the Islamic Republic News agency

White House creates obstacle in visa issuance for Iran president (Updates to add quotes)
Tehran, March 23, IRNA


Iran-US-President
The White House has created obstacle in issuing visa for Iranian president to take part in the meeting of the Security Council.


President mahmoud Ahmadinejad decided to go to New York to defend Iranian right at the Security Council debate on Iranian nuclear program on Saturday.

Deputy Foreign Minister for International and Legal Affairs Abbas Araghchi expressed regret at absence of cooperation on part of the US Administration for issuing visa for the Iranian president.

"Despite completing application formality for the visa and the US Administration officials promises to grant visa at the earliest possible time, the visa is not available for the time being. It should have been issued sometime ago," he said.

"It seems the US Administration is following its unilateral approach by visa refusal for the Iranian president. It is blatant violation of the consular undertaking of the UN host country in dealing with visa requests for officials of the United Nations Member States and another indication of the US ill-intention toward Iranian nuclear program."
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